Royals clinch first playoff berth since 1985
The Royals are playoff-bound for the first time since the Reagan administration.
Kansas City (88-72) beat the White Sox on Friday, 3-1, in Chicago to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Royals will at least be a wild-card team, but they are also one game behind the Tigers (89-71) for the AL Central lead with two games to play.
• Angels clinch home-field advantage throughout playoffs
The Royals' first and only World Series title came in 1985, when they beat the Cardinals in seven games. That postseason trip was the club's seventh in 10 years, but they haven't made it back until now.
The mantle of the longest playoff drought now goes to the Blue Jays (20 years) followed by the Mariners (12).
Kansas City will finish with its best record since 1989 (92-70).
The Royals and Pirates will be playing in the same postseason for the first time.
• Baseball Hall of Fame already planning for Jeter's induction
- Chris Mascaro
